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Sunday, September 9, 2012

Ivanishvili: “We will definitely reopen Russian wine market"

09.09.2012 (Hvino News). Bidzina Ivanishvili, leader of the opposition Georgian Dream coalition, made remarks on wine production while addressing a large outdoor campaign rally in Telavi, the main town of eastern region of Kakheti.

As Kakheti region is home to over 60% of Georgian vineyards, the opposition leader addressed the issue of wine production. Mr.Ivanishvili said that in case of coming into power he would manage to reopen Russian market for the Georgian wine, which was closed down by Moscow in 2006. “We will definitely reopen Russian market [for Georgian wines], which is essential for the Georgian wine and for its revival,” Ivanishvili said.

Bidzina Ivanishvili, according to Forbes, is the richest man in Georgia. In 2011 he came out against Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, creating a new political party called Georgian Dream. Ivanishvili began building his empire in 1990 in Russia, when he set up Rossiysky Kredit Bank. Ivanishvili is fine art collector (his most expensive painting is "Dora Maar with Cat" by Pablo Picasso, which he bought at Sotheby's in 2006 for $95 million). Lives in the Georgian village of Chorvila, where he was born.